1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Split Second. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The play takes place on July 4th. A criminal is chased down and shot by a police officer named Val. After apparently staging the crime scene, Val lies about what happened, which is where the play starts.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrustion, it may not be where you initially think it is.
The intrusion occurs when Val initially lies to Parker about how Willis was shot in the heart.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The unique factor is that Willis tries to take a car. Had he not, he could have avoided his death.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Val finally tell the truth about what happened? Will he go to jail?
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters.
The first obstacle is that Val must face "Me Vs. Individual" and decide if he should kill Willis. Then Val must deal with lying to other individuals or simply tell them all the truth. Then Val faces himself by living with the lies he's created to keep his secrets safe. He then must face society to make sure that he can keep his secret safe.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second.
The most theatrical moment in the play is when Val fires on Willis.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The first part is where Val shoots Willis. This is because Val is a black man who shot a white man. This seems to invert against what our society normally portrays. The knife is another aspect because without it, Val wouldn't be able to lie about his situation.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second.
Deceit, abuse of power, betrayal, and deception.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second?
Family is a factor because of the main relationship that Val has with his father. He tries to live up to his father's expectations, but he actually never seems to make it. Val's father wants him to turn himself in while Val's wife decides want val to lie so they can have a normal life.
1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Split Second. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The play takes place on July 4th. A criminal is chased down and shot by a police officer named Val. After apparently staging the crime scene, Val lies about what happened, which is where the play starts.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrustion, it may not be where you initially think it is.
The intrusion occurs when Val initially lies to Parker about how Willis was shot in the heart.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The unique factor is that Willis tries to take a car. Had he not, he could have avoided his death.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Val finally tell the truth about what happened? Will he go to jail?
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters.
The first obstacle is that Val must face "Me Vs. Individual" and decide if he should kill Willis. Then Val must deal with lying to other individuals or simply tell them all the truth. Then Val faces himself by living with the lies he's created to keep his secrets safe. He then must face society to make sure that he can keep his secret safe.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second.
The most theatrical moment in the play is when Val fires on Willis.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The first part is where Val shoots Willis. This is because Val is a black man who shot a white man. This seems to invert against what our society normally portrays. The knife is another aspect because without it, Val wouldn't be able to lie about his situation.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second.
Deceit, abuse of power, betrayal, and deception.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second?
Family is a factor because of the main relationship that Val has with his father. He tries to live up to his father's expectations, but he actually never seems to make it. Val's father wants him to turn himself in while Val's wife decides want val to lie so they can have a normal life.